Dutch Oven Popcorn: Easy Campfire or Stovetop Snack With Big Flavor

Don’t waste your money on microwave popcorn anymore! Whether at home or gathered around the campfire, dutch oven popcorn is a delicious, easy, and cheap snack that’s better than the microwave version! 

If you’ve ever considered making popcorn on your stovetop or popcorn over a campfire, I cannot recommend this cooking technique enough. This dutch oven popcorn recipe is simple, comes together in five minutes, is customizable and only costs about 30 cents per batch compared to $2.00 per microwave popcorn bag. 

Why Use a Dutch Oven to Make Popcorn?

In our house, we use our dutch oven as much as we can, and popcorn in a dutch oven is no exception. We like to do stove top popcorn for a couple of reasons. First, a dutch oven is a great heat conductor and cooks foods really evenly so we don’t have as many “old maids,” or burnt kernels. 

We also like making homemade popcorn in the dutch oven because it can be made on our stove, or we can use our cast iron dutch oven to make popcorn over the fire–it’s such a versatile kitchen tool. Speaking of versatility, using our dutch oven prevents us from feeling like we need to buy one more kitchen gadget to cook delicious, healthy food. Win, win!

Ingredients & Equipment Needed for Dutch Oven Popcorn

• Popcorn Kernels Any brand or type of popcorn kernels will do. We just buy the generic store brand of kernels in a jar or bag because they are even cheaper than the name brand. 
• Oil When making popcorn on the stove or popcorn over the fire, you’ll want an oil that can handle high heat. We like to use avocado oil, but you can also use coconut oil or canola oil. 
• Salt and Seasonings Making popcorn in a dutch oven allows you to customize the flavor however you’d like. We typically just flavor our popcorn with salt and melted butter, but we’ve also used ranch seasoning, garlic powder, chili lime seasoning–any flavors that you like!
• Dutch Oven When making popcorn over a campfire, you’ll want to use a cast iron dutch oven, but when you make popcorn on the stove, you can use either a cast iron or enameled dutch oven. We typically make this in our kitchen and use our enameled dutch oven by Lodge. 
• Heat Resistant Gloves (for Campfire) The last thing you want when camping is a trip to the ER for a burn, so we recommend heat resistant gloves when making campfire popcorn. 

How to Make Popcorn in a Dutch Oven on the Stove

Here’s the step-by-step instructions to making delicious popcorn in your dutch oven. 

1. Place the Dutch oven over medium heat on your stovetop.
2. Add 3 tablespoons of oil and drop in 2–3 popcorn kernels.
3. Cover with the lid and wait for those test kernels to pop — this tells you the oil is hot enough (around 400–460°F).’
4. Once the test kernels pop, quickly remove them with a spoon or shake them to the side.
5. Pour in the ½ cup of kernels, then immediately cover with the lid.
6. Gently shake the Dutch oven every 10–15 seconds by holding the handles–you may want oven mitts. This keeps the kernels moving and helps prevent burning.You’ll hear a burst of popping that gradually slows
7. When there’s about 2–3 seconds between pops, remove the pot from heat.
8. Carefully tilt the lid to release steam — this keeps the popcorn crisp.
9. Pour into a large bowl and season immediately (we use salt and melted butter) while it’s hot.

Variations for Campfire Popcorn

1. Place a grill grate or fire-safe platform over glowing coals (not direct flame).
2. Heat the Dutch oven just as you would on the stovetop — using the test kernel method. 
3. The rest of the process is the same as the stove top method,  just make sure you use heat safe gloves, and metal tongs to shake the dutch oven, and take extreme caution around the fire. The cooking time may be shorter as the fire will heat up the cast iron faster. 

📖 Recipe

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Dutch Oven Popcorn Recipe

An easy, crunchy snack made over the stovetop or campfire. No microwave needed!

Course Snack

Cuisine American

Keyword dutch oven recipe, easy dutch oven recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 5 minutes minutes

Servings 4

Cost $3

Equipment

• 1 enameled dutch oven or cast iron dutch oven

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoon oil (avocado, coconut, or canola)
• ½ cup popcorn kernels
• salt or seasoning to taste (optional)
• 2 tablespoon melted butter (optional)

Instructions

Stove Top Instructions

• Place Dutch oven over medium heat. Add oil and drop in 2–3 popcorn kernels. Cover with lid.
• When the test kernels pop, the oil is hot enough (about 400–460°F). Remove the popped kernels with a spoon or shake them to the side.
• Pour in remaining popcorn kernels (½ cup) and quickly replace the lid.
• Every 10–15 seconds, carefully shake the pot to move the kernels and prevent burning.
• When popping slows to 2–3 seconds between pops, remove the pot from heat.
• Tilt the lid to release steam (this keeps popcorn crisp). Pour into a large bowl and season as desired. We add melted butter and salt at this step.

For Campfire Method

• Wear fire safe gloves at all times and use metal tongs.
• Place cast iron dutch oven over hot coals, not direct flame.
• Add oil and drop in 2–3 popcorn kernels. Cover with lid.
• When the test kernels pop, the oil is hot enough (about 400–460°F).
• Every 10–15 seconds, carefully shake the pot to move the kernels and prevent burning.
• When popping slows to 2–3 seconds between pops, remove the pot from heat.
• Tilt the lid to release steam (this keeps popcorn crisp). Place dutch oven on a fire safe surface. Pour popcorn into a large bowl and season as desired.